Articulated dust cover means for table saw or other power-driven apparatus

• US 4,385,539 A
• Filed: 08/14/1981
• Issued: 05/31/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meyerhoefer, Carl H., Meyerhoefer, Carl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schran, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US06/292,434
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 83/473, 83/477.1, 83/477.2, 83/522, 83/100, 51/269, 51/273, 51/166 FB, 51/166 R, 144/252 R
• US Class Current: 83/473
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 11/08 Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/29 Details; Component parts; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 1/00 Safety devices independent of the control and operation of any machine protective devices for the eyes or ears, worn on the body or carried in the hand, A61F9/00, A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/02 Screens or other safety members moving in synchronism with members which move to and fro
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool

Abstract

The front panel of a table saw has a lever which controls the elevation of the saw blade relative to the saw table. The elevation control lever is also coupled to a bevel control means for tilting the saw blade (and its driving motor) with respect to the table. The combination of these translational and bevel movements results in a relatively large traverse of the elevation control lever. The elevation control lever projects through an opening in the front panel of the housing for the table saw, and this opening is of sufficient size and shape to accommodate the total excursion of the elevation control lever in its traverse. An articulated cover means is provided within the housing to prevent dust from entering into the housing via the opening, as well as to prevent inadvertent contact with the operating mechanism. This articulated cover means includes a first cover member which is disposed substantially flush against the opening on the inside of the front panel. This first cover member, which pivots in response to pivotal movement of the bevel control means (and the elevation control lever coupled thereto) has a size and shape sufficient to substantially cover the opening in the front panel in all positions of the bevel control means. The elevation control lever extends through an opening in the first cover member, and the opening is elongated to accommodate the translational movement of the elevation control lever. A second cover member is carried by the elevation control lever and substantially covers the elongated opening in the first cover member. The combination of the first and second cover members thus provides for a total coverage of the opening in the front panel of the saw housing, for all translational movements of the elevation control lever, and at any given setting of the bevel control means.

Claims

1. In combination with a power-operated saw having a housing provided with a table, a motor-driven saw blade projecting above the table, means including an elevation control lever for raising and lowering the blade with respect to the table to adjust the depth of cut, bevel control means for tilting the saw blade with respect to the table, the elevation control lever being movable in all positions of the bevel control means, whereby the elevation control lever has a relatively large traverse, the housing having a front panel with an opening formed therein through which the elevation control lever projects, the opening being of sufficient size and shape to accommodate the relatively large traverse of the elevation control lever, an articulated cover means for the opening in the front panel of the housing, said cover means comprising a first cover member having a conjoint movement with the bevel control means, the first cover member being disposed substantially flush against the inside of the front panel and substantially covering the opening in the front panel in all positions of the bevel control means, the first cover member having an elongated opening therein through which the elevation control lever extends, and a second cover member carried by the elevation control lever and disposed substantially flush against the first cover member, the second cover member substantially covering the elongated opening in the first cover member as the elevation control lever is moved within the elongated opening in the first cover member.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first cover member comprises a substantially flat member having a plan outline which is approximately in the form of a sector of a circle.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said second cover member comprises a substantially flat member in the form of a circular disc.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second cover members are formed from a plastic material.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the bevel control means includes a pivot rod in the housing, and wherein the first cover member is pivotably mounted on the rod.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the second cover member is disposed on the side of the first cover member which is opposite to the front panel of the housing.

7. The combination of claim 6, further including a spring to hold the first cover member up against the front panel.

8. The combination of claim 7, further including a spring to hold the second cover member against the first cover member.

9. In a power-operated saw having a housing provided with a table, a motor-driven saw blade projecting above the table, means including an elevation control lever for raising and lowering the blade with respect to the table to adjust the depth of cut, means for making a cut by raising the elevation control lever and thereby bringing the blade up out of the housing and into engagement with a workpiece held on the table, bevel control means for tilting the saw blade with respect to the table, the elevation control lever being movable in all positions of the bevel control means, whereby the elevation control lever has a relatively wide traverse, the bevel control means further including a pivot rod in the housing, the housing having a front panel with an opening formed therein through which the elevation control lever projects, the opening being of sufficient size and shape to accommodate the relatively large traverse of the elevation control lever, and an articulated cover means for the opening in the front panel of the housing, said cover means comprising a first cover member pivotably mounted on the pivot rod in the housing and having a conjoint movement with the bevel control means, the first cover member comprising a substantially-flat piece made from an insulating material and having a plan outline approximately in the form of a sector of a circle, the first cover member being disposed substantially flush against the inside of the front panel of the housing and having a sufficient size and shape to substantially cover the opening in the front panel in all positions of the bevel control means, the first cover member having an elongated opening formed therein, the elevation control lever extending through the elongated opening, a second cover member carried by the elevation control lever and disposed substantially flush against the first cover member on the side of the first cover member which is opposite to the front panel, the second cover member comprising a substantially-flat piece formed from an insulating material, and the second cover member substantially covering the elongated opening in the first cover member as the elevation control lever is moved within the elongated opening in the first cover member.

10. In a machine having a housing with an opening therein through which a control lever projects, the control lever having a relatively wide traverse within the opening, the traverse comprising a limited pivotal movement of the control lever about an axis and further comprising, at any given pivoted position, a limited translational movement in a plane which is transverse to the plane of its pivotal movement, means for covering the opening substantially throughout the total excursion of traverse of the control lever, said means comprising a pair of articulated members in the housing, the members being disposed substantially flush against each other and against the opening in the housing, means for pivoting one of the members in response to the limited pivotal movement of the control lever about its pivot axis, said means including an elongated opening in the one member and the control lever projecting therethrough, the one member being of sufficient size and shape to substantially cover the opening in the housing during its pivotal movement, and the other member being carried by the control lever in its limited translational movement to substantially cover the elongated opening in the one member.

11. In a machine including a housing having a panel with an opening formed therein, and a control lever projecting through the opening, an articulated dust cover means for the opening, said means comprising a pair of substantially flat members, one of the members having a plan outline approximately in the form of a sector of a circle, said one member being pivotably mounted in the housing and being disposed substantially flush against the inside of the front panel, said one member having a slotted opening formed therein through which the control lever projects, whereby said one member pivots in accordance with pivotal movement of the control lever within the opening, said one member being of sufficient size and shape to cover the opening in the front panel in substantially all pivoted positions of the control lever, and the other member being carried by the control lever and being substantially flush against the first member, whereby the slotted opening in the first member is covered in substantially all positions of the control lever relative to the slotted opening.